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AN 

ADDRESS 

TO THE 

CITIZENS OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE, 

ON THE 

APPROACHING ELECTION OF 
STATE OFFICERS. 



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PsLLOfT'CiTIZEirSf t .'.. 

xjlS the important penod for chocfing STATE 0F« 
FICERS draws nigh, it cannot be thought unadvifable to 
remind you of thofe duties which then devolve upon you. 
The enveterate enemies of our Republican Government arc 
very bufy on their part, to keep up their influenccv Re- 
publicans, who are fuch in raality and not in mere profef- 
fions, and to whom is owing, under God, all the great and 
inraluable privileges and bleffings we enjoy, ought to be as 
indefatigable in promoting their caufe, as others are in in- 
juring it. The latter then, will not be able, with all their 
inighty exertions and influence to do us much mifchief ; 
and what they may do, will eventually injure only them- 
felves. Th Commoffwealth Jhall receive no detriment from 



« \^ 
L1..1 ■ ' 

New-Hampfliire, that they have judgment and knowledge 
to difcern, and fpirit to reward known and proved merit ; 
th;it they are anxious to advance men capable of conduft* 
ing wifely the public affairs ; and that they have capacity 
to difcriminate between the true Patriot and the falfsy the 
naen well informed and heartily difpofed to manage the 
ptiblic bufinefs to the b«ft advantage, and with the ftridleft 
€conomy. There are thofe among us, Fellow-Citizensj 
who under the pretence of fe^r of the prejudices of the Peo- 
ple, for their own purpofes, caft on them unmerited re- 
proach ; and there are many Citizens in this State, who 
ai^ently wifli its profperity, but are mifled by men of influ- 
ence, who, under pretexts of love of Liberty and their 
Country, are only feeking their own emolument, and exert- 
ing themfelvcs with an unwearied affiduity, to bring our 
general Government into difreptute, and to effe(5t a revolu- 
tion in favour of one tyrannical and oppreSIve, which would 
render the American world a world of cringing flaves, bow- 
ing obfequioufly.to their domineering mafters. To thofe 
pretended friends of liberty, the advancement of worthy and 
faithful Republicans to important ftations, would be an in- 
tolerable eye-fore. Hence the inveterate. enmity and oppo- 
fition to the Republicans of our State, thofe Citizens who 
have been invariably, from the commencement of our con- 
teft, through every fucceeding fcene of adverfcty and prof- 
perity, its hearty friends, and tlrongly attached to the 
Union, on which our fecurity depends. What ftrenuous ef- 
forts have been made to bring into difgrace the Republican 
caufe, and every friend of liberty, of this State and of the 
general Government. And the fame fprrit of enmity and 
oppofition is ftill exerting itfelf by every ungenerous means 
to deprive us of thofe privileges and bleflSngs for which we 
fought and fufFered. And this, Fellow-Citizens, loudly 
calls us, every one of us, to the motl diligent and faithful at- 
tention to our deareft interefts to examine the charaders, 
connexions and views of men in office ; that, on th2 ap- 
proaching eledlion, we may a<a our parts with knowledge, 
with vigor and firranefs ; as men determined to maintain 
the Fre'?dom we have fo dearly purchafed, and to rid our- 
felves of every obftacle to the profperity and happinefs of 
tKic Sfate^ It is a due attention, and not ability that is 



■( 3 ) 

! airany of us been To eafy and indifFerent about men m pub- 
lic ftations, whofe views have been inimical to Libertv, 
though ihey make high pretenfions of bein^ its friends ? 
Gan any of us conceive, that men who have, and ftlll dif- 
eover the moll pointed contempt of our general Govern- 
ment and its prefent admiaiftrators, a' e fie to manage the af- 
fairs of the State ; or to be preferred to thofe who under- 
ftand, admire and love our Conftitution and GovemuQ-^nt, 
who are friends to the adminiftration, and approve the wife 
and falutary meafures which have been adopted and purfu- 
ed agreeably to the voice of the Peoplci and who have been, 
in every ftage of our Revolution unwearied in their exertions 
for the general good, and the firm' eftablifliment of the 
Union ? Among thefe, was the Hon. JOHN LANGDON, 
xnoft eminently confpicuous ; and none more fpitefully op- 
pofed by the federal or tory party, who have had fo (hame- 
ful an influence in this State. Is Col. Langdon, Fellow- 
Citizens, become lefs worthy of your efteem and confidence 
for his fteady and invariable attachment to the true inter- 
efts of his country — for being one of the firft and moft ac- 
tive in the caufe of Liberty at the commencement of our 
coateft with Great- Britain — and for having been, without 
change or duplicity, the fame zealous friend to his country 
and to this State ; whofe exertions and wifely condu<fled 
zeal rendered him highly refpedied and beloved by all the 
wife and good men throughout the Union ? and ftill is he 
viewed by them as the firm and immoveable Patriot. And 
many who were his enemies, in different parts of the Union, 
men too of great abilites, and whofe difccrnment led iliem 
to diftinguilh chara<flers, have become his firm friends, nt 
the fame time that ihey became likewife the friends of all 
the faithful men of our country. That any among us ^lould 
be influenced by defi2i:ning men, againfl one of the beft and 
worthieft chara<^ers in the State and Union, is cerLyirly 
much to their difhonour. Can we obferve, without the 
deepeft refentment, the contempt with which our Republi- 
can Government is treated, by thofe who aie bound to a<a 
differently ; and the meafuies purfued by the adminiftra- 
tors of our Federal Government, tending to the permanent 
fecurity of our liberties and privileges, to the additional 
Arength and riches of our country by an immenfe increafe 

^„JL. — i.,„ul_ .. :.. L.^ 



f + ) 

GiLMAK, in his fpeech, fays nothing of the great thmgs 
tranfa(fting in Congrefs, on which a Republican Magiftrate, 
having the real good of his country at heart muft have 
found much to fay, and with the higheft commendations of 
the Prefident, and the triumphant majority in the Senate 
and the Houfe of Reprefentatives. I have heard it obferv- 
ed, that Gov. Oilman was as good a man for the public, as 
any one could be, who might fuccced him. li he is fo good 
for the public, why has he not expreifed himfelf with that 
freedom and independence of mind, which charafterifes a 
true Republican, on the great and important concerns of 
the State, and of the Union ? Has he not rather difcovered 
a mind correfponding with the difafFefted party, whofe con- 
dud has fo ftrongly evidenced their enmity to our Federal 
Republican Government, and their defigns to effeft a fepa- 
ti on of the States ? Can there be Republican Citizens a- 
mong us, who can reft fatisfied with the continuance in the 
firft offices of the State, of men who appear fo inimical to 
the wifeft and raoft philanthropic meafures, or be reconciled' 
to a preponderancy of Anti- Republican influence, or of a<i- 
herants to a tory party who have made fo ungrateful a ufe 
of the indulgence with which they have been treated ; 
men who, in paft years, were the moft mifchicvous enemies 
of our country, and powerful aids to our Britifh foes ? Can 
we fpr et with what inliilt and abiife Republicans were 
treated in the reign of terror ? Can we loofe the remem- 
brance of that gloomy period, when the moll worthy and 
refpe<Sable part of the nation were ftigmatized as unworthy 
the favour or confidence of the public ; — were [as is juftly 
obiierved by a writer, introduced as a convert from Federal- 
ifm] ** in one r€rpe(5l in a ftate of out-law, in another over- 
awed by a fedition a«5t, that by its fcverity trampled on the 
freedom of opinion, exprefljon and political debate^ aad con- 
fequently the freedom of the preifs V* '* The meafurss of 
government (continues this writer,) could hardly be can- 
vaffed ; for they cloathed themfelves in a coat ot armour, 
and fet their opponents at defiance. But the fedition asSi" 
has crumbled to pieces, under the aufpicics of the piefent 
vi'He adminiftration ; which is perfuaded, that a government 
ading on a liberal, juft, virtuous and enlightened policy^ need 
not feek elfewhere for protedion, than in the minds and 



f 5 ) 

jniph of Liberty and Republicanifm has efFe<ried, that every 
Citizen may make a free and bold enquiry into the condud 
of Public Officers : and, it is to be hoped, we fiiall no more 
have founded in our ears the deteftable cpini-., ;: of Federal 
and Tory politicians, that thePecpU are tkemfiivei their great- 
eji etiemiss — a fentiment calculated to eftablifli the thrones of 
kingly and priellly tyranny, a union of Church and State a- 
gainPc the liberties and happinefs of Mankind. 

If the People are their own greateft enemies, as reprefented 
by cae of. the Federal orators, v/here are they lo find friends 
capable of preferving them from themfelves ? Are there a 
fpecies of men, who polTefs the fuperior virtue and wifdona 
to guard diem from the deftruftlon in which they would in- 
volve themfelves ? and where are ihey to be found ? The 
Ex-Prefident, and other fuch good men, it feems, can point 
them out to us, and put us under their gracious protedion. 
Such men, in the pride of their felf-exalting heart;>, have for- 
merly defpifed public opinion, and thwarted the generous 
purpofes of the People. But their day of rule and infult is 
over ; and never, never may it retutn ! 

The Philanthropifts of this age have nobly exerted them- 
felves to effsdl the total difTolution of that baleful union of 
Church and State, which has inpaft ages rendered the na- 
tions pre-eminently miferable. With us, Fellow-Citizens, 
this uaion is not a.llov/ed to exift, though much pains has 
been taken to eftablifh It. We have learned, that without 
the enjoyment of Religious Liberty, there can be no real 
and permanent political freedom. Church and State, ur.it- 
ed againft the People, involve them in horrid darknefs, and 
bind them with cruel fetters — And Vv'e have yet too many 
among us in this State, who would rejoice to fee us in this 
wretched fituation. It depends on us to affeft a decieafe of 
their number and influence, by advancing, to the higheft 
trufts, men who abhor every fpecies of tyranny and oppref- 
fion J that we be no longer impofed on by thofe who are 
for managing the government, not with a philanthropic 
fpirit, but fo as fhall beft anfv/er their own fordid purpofes, 
and who would, were it in their power, put a final end to 
the exercife of reafon among the People. For this tJiey. 
would have Religion and Politics united, that proud and 
haughty prietls and flatefmen might be the onIy_£iiinY£XiL- 



(J J 

fure. Our government is calculated to ftir up Citizens to 
enquiry, by which we fhake off prejudices, and become 
more and more unit€d in fentiments of love and good will 
towards each other. If we fuffer ourfelves to be debarred 
from free enquiry, we are then no longer men, we are no 
longer rationais. There are too many of thofe among us, 
who would have Government and Laws unalterably fixed, 
and no room left for improvement of either. Thefe men, 
could they have their way, would eftablifh a perpetual ty- 
ranny. Let lis be careful, Citizens, to avail ourfelves of 
the bleflings of a government, founded on the trueft and 
nobleft principles, *♦ adopted on full inveftigation and ma- 
ture deliberation, co7?ipletely free, in its principles, uniting fe- 
curity with energy, and containhtg nuithin Hjelf a provifton far- 
its own ame/idment,"* Let us in choofmg our Public Officers,. 
z£t agreeably to the di6lates of reafon. and confcience, and 
jn feeking the happinefs of our own State, feek that of the 
Union. It is thus we (kail act wifely and efiedlually, and 
pofterity will remember us with gratitude, for the bleflings 
we fhall hand dov/u to them. 

The People of New-England are faft emerging from the 
tnthrallment of men difaffeded to Liberty. They muft 
ever remember the ** revolutionary motto, umted we J^andy 
divided ^e fall.''* In that period when men's fouls were tried, 
the Northern aa.l Southern States were defbitute of Ijnifter 
and local prejudices. Such may thsy gver remain, under 
their prefent free governments — of or*^ heart and one fiul-^ 
one and indivifible. This will conftitute our ftability, glory 
and felicity ; and no power on earth fhall be able to wreft 
from us our great and invaluable bleflings. 

The continuence of men in office for fo many years fuc* 
ceffively, is contrary to the rotatory principle eftabliffied by 
the Conftitution 5 a wife principle, and of high importance 
both to the prefervation of liberty, and the encouragement 
of citizens to qualify themfelves to ferve their country. In 
fuch a government as ours, men in public ftations are fenfible 
that their abilities, i-ntegrity and faithfulnefs are their only 
recommendations to the public favor, and fuch men will 
not be defirous of continuing in their offices to the excluflon 
of others equally capable with themfelves. In a free coun- 
try, the meafures purfued by the adminiftration, are freely 



L.L.l 

lor their approbation or dif^pprobation ; and none csn adlv 
againft their interefts with impunity. This h:^.s been lately- 
evidenced in the United States, highly to the credit and 
honor of the people, who, with one voice, difmiffed fronj 
their fervice thofe who abufed the truft repofed in them. — 
LiCt us fhew the fame fpirit and energy, and v>e fhall ex- 
perience the good efieds of a change of ofKcers, and rife in 
due refpe(5tability among our filler States. Let thofe who 
have. been under the inPiUence of deugning men, confederat- 
ed with a difaffe<5^ed p.-?rty, aiming to promote difcorJ, and 
to eiFed a feparation of tlie States, exeit thofe powers of 
reafon which the creator has beftov/ed upon them, in a 
diligent enquiry into the m^nagsment and views of men 
who have been fo long in oBF^ee. Suffer not yourfelves to 
be led by thofe who v/ould make ufe of your money to rivctt 
on you and poller ity the chains of flavery. Or are you 
content always to go in leading (trings ? Are you not ac- 
countable to God and your Country for the improvement 
of your rational faculties ? Or, are any of you, who, in our 
revolutionary llruggle, exerted a noble fpirit of freedom and 
independence, become fo loft to public virtue, as, for the 
fake of fordid felf inlereft, to yield yourfelves to the guidance 
of the decided enemies of liberty, and of the true intereft.s 
of oyr country ? Shameful degeneracy ! And fliame, dif- 
grace and wretchednefs ivill, fooner or later, reward fuck 
apoftacy ; unlefs, calling to mind what you once were, you 
rouze from your infatuatio:n, and, calling away the fetters 
which are binding you, you becorae, jouv former fdves ; 
otherwife, your unprincipalled leaders, taking, advantage of 
the fordid and avaricious difpofition you have fuffered to 
grow upon you, will, by the ufe they v/ill make of you, 
convince you, perhaps for ever loo late, of your folly in. 
fubmitting to become their tools. 

We have every reafon' to hope, Fdlow-Citizens, that the 
union of the United States, fo glorious to cur country, is 
eftablifhed on the moft durable foundation, which no efforts 
of thofe who are inimical to it, vi/ill ever be able to fubvert. 
The great and Increafing knov/Iedge and experience of the 
people, daily convinces them more and more of its impor- 
tance to their fecurity and profperity ; and converts from 
federal or monarchical and ariftocratical do<5lrines, are mul- 



LLl 

«rafty men, lying in wait to dec.-ive. They will become afl 
iiliv'-- lo their irvaluabie interti's, and with the fpirit which 
Sred their fouls in former times of confIi<!^ and danger, they 
will rid themfelves of an unprincipled tory fiction, vvhofe 
iinfliience has (o long predominated, and call to places of 
public truft their Iv"pubiican friends, who were united w^th 
them in accompllibing our Revolution and Independence, 
and who have been Heady and invariable in their political 
fentiments, and largely contributed by iheir exertions, to the 
downfal of monarchical and ariftocratical pride and power, 
the advancement of Jefferson, the man of the pf.oplf, 
to the chief feat in the Geneial Government, and the mofl 
refpedlable of citizens to fhare with him id conducing the 
great affaiis of owr country. The meaAires they have pur- 
iued, have met with univerfal approbation and applaufe, 
except from .the difappointed fadion, and excited the ad- 
miration of fcrrounding nations. Tke fly attempts that 
have been made, by feme who v/ore the malic of Republl- 
canifm, with the aid of unprincipalled men of the various 
parties, lo raife an intereft in the governments againft the 
Republican intereft, to aggrandize and enrich themfelves afc 
the expenfe of the people, have been defeated : Republicans 
have renewed their ftrength, and induced a rational convic- 
tion from thence, that no weapon formed againft them will 
profper ; that they will ever rife fuperior to the fecret or 
open efforts and ftratagems of their enemies. 

The fentiments expreffed by our Prefident, in his publiQi^ 
ed letter of Sept. 4, 1800, are truly charaderiftic of a man 
worthy of the place he holds in the government, and the 
hearts of the people ; fpeaking of whom, he obferves, that 
"Uhe interefts they have at ftake are intitled to their nuhoU 
attention^ unbiaffed by perfonal efteem- or local confidera- 
tlons." Happy will it be for us if we are ever duly im- 
prefled by the fentiment. The Prefident further fays in his 
letter, that which is received as truth by every Republican, 
and which has invariably influenced his own condudt — that 
'' a preponderance of the Executive over the Legiflative 
branch, cannot be maintained but in immenfe patronage, 
by multiplying offices, making them very lucrative, by ar- 
mies, navies, &c. which may enlift on the fide of the patron, 
all thofe whom he can intereft, and all their families and 



( 9 y 

•f opin'iens which, to fay only the Icaft of them, doom tfie'' 
labouriag citizen to toil and fweat for pageants.'* — Such 
were the delights of the former adminiftration, by which 
the People were miferably opprefTed ; and the citizens were 
to labour, toil and fweat tofmpport their extravagances and 
monarchical grandeur. If there be any among you, Fel- 
low Citizens, who are fond of fuch grandeur, and defire to 
fupport a party who would rejoice in its eftablifhment, they 
will doubtlefs exert themfelvei to place in ofiice the friends 
ef monarchy and of the adminiftration of the ex-Prefident, in* 
which exertions fliouid they fucceed, they will have caufe 
to repent of their obfequious compliance with the views of 
men, who will care no further for them, than what condu- 
ces to their own emolumeat. The evils which it muft be 
cxpe^ed would arife from their continued influence, muft 
foon become intolerable to all the friends of our Republican 
Government. Let us then arreft the progrefs of an in- 
fluence baneful to this State, and to the general govern- 
ment, and by our vigorous exertions for the promoting to 
ofSce thofe citizens in whom we can confide, reftore to 
NewHampihire her former celebrity 

Fellovj-Citizsm and Countrymen, let the high Importance 
of our being united, fteady and unwavering in the beft of 
caufes, be my apology for the freedom and zeal with w.bich> 
]^ addrefs you. For what friend to Liberty and to his. 
country can think, withouj: the deepeft anxiety, on the ap* 
pearances of difaffedion or treachery among Republicans, 
or without horror on the awful confequences that muft fol- 
low continued and increafmg c'ivifions and animofities a- 
raong ourfelves ! What deftructive v;ork was carrying on. 
in the fouthern States, by falfe-hearted and apoftate Pvepub- 
licans, ia a vile confederacy with \\\z federal fa fi ton I But 
(thanks to Keaven !) the Genius of Liberty triumphed over 
their treacherous machinations \ — And is there not too folid 
grounds for the affertion, that there is am.ong us a derelic- 
tion of principle for felfifli ends, and diviiions arifmg from 
ambitious defigns, perfonal refentments, and federal or tory 
influence ? Think not that I am influenced by the vanity oF 
A fuperficial mind, or that I write from any felfifh view. It 
is thehappinefs of my country, and the love of freedom that 
infpires ray pen, and the dantrers to which we are expcfed 
- frnrn^iVlikjfnends. as well as_/i:nm_iiiorejc/mfoicjini4=.=^ 



Cjo ) 

Liberty, than enjoy the moft exalted ftation in a world of 
daftardly cringing flaves, or afTociate and harmonize with 
men betraying their country from felfifti views, or for fordid 
gain. It is too fhamefully true, that many are indiffeient, 
others wavering, and that fome hsve forfaken the caufe in^ 
which they were once zealouily and fuccefsfully engaged. — 
O God of benevolence ! — Is fuch the return we make to 
thee for the great things thou haft accomplilhed for us, 
when we appealed to thee for the jnflnefs of our caufe, and 
thou anfweredft us with the moft propitious foiiles, and tlte 
moft aftoniftiing difplays -^f thy protefting goodnefs. 

No fooner had we triumphed over our enemies, and ef- 
tabliflied our Independence, than many of ns forgot our 
high-ftanding, and the divine pov/er that exalted us into a 
nation the moft refpedable on earth ; and v;e became dif- 
graced by divifions among ourfelves. It is fuch bafenefs 
and folly, and ingratitude to Heaven, which, fhould it pre- 
vail, muft inevitably prove our ruin ; and our enemies will 
triumph over us with a malignant joy. No true Republi- 
can would wifli to furvlve fuch a defeat. The Patriot Cato, 
of Royiie^ conld not out-live his country's wretched degrada- 
tion ; it burft his noble heart — and he bid adieu to a world 
given up to tyrants as a fcourge for human ingratitude, and 
took his feat in the manfions of unfuUied honor, and un- 
clouded glory.— But, fhould this fhameful degeneracy, from 
principle, grow upon us, and, (which may gracious Hea- 
ven avert !) our enemies gain the afcendancy through cur 
egiegions folly — ftill true-hearted Republicans will be glo- 
rious ; they 'vill ftiil be the excsllent of the earth ; and the 
-^RA of Jefferson, and the illuftrious worthies, who now 
adorn and aggrandize our Country, and dignify human 
nature, will, in future ages, be celebrated and admired in- 
every region cf the world. 

If the love of Country, Fellow-Citizens — of Liberty, c^ 
virtue — If wifdom to plan, and energy to execute meafures 
efFe<5lually conducive to the f-ifety and profperity of the 
States and the General Government — If thefe are things 
valu ble in your eyes, then Jefferson and his real friends 
muft be ever high in your efteem. The advancement and 
fupport of fuch men will do honor to your Country, render 



receive the plaudit of Heaven, and all the 'beneficent beingc 
who exlft through wide creation's range. 

Col. JOHN LANGDON, 

Fellow-Citizens, is the citizen we recommend 
to you as candidate for your Governor, as de- 
ferving of your choice, as he is well known by 
all the friends of Liberty and of the Union, as 
the fame changelefs and invariable Patriot. 



Fmruary 1804. 






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